Obama administration discussing 'extreme' air quality tactics

Environmental laboratory

Obama administration discussing 'extreme' air quality tactics

09 Apr, 2009

Published over 17 years ago. See the latest and most current information on Environmental laboratory.

Adviser to the Obama administration in the US has revealed that discussions are taking place as to the viability of altering the climate through geo-engineering.

This would include initiatives such as cloud seeding and shooting pollution above the upper stratosphere to defect the rays of the sun, said science adviser John Holdren.

He stated that disasters related to global warming could be on the horizon and that "we don't have the luxury of taking any approach off the table".

Mr Holdren added that these methods have been raised with Obama's aides and that once certain milestones of global warming are reached - such as the loss of Arctic ice - greater catastrophes will become more likely.

According to Time magazine, geo-engineering was long considered the reserve of eccentric scientists, but as global warming has become a more immediate issue in recent years, "it is slowly emerging as an option of last resort".

IET 36.2 Mar/Apr 2026

Explore our Digital Edition

Discover the latest news and research

Digital edition

Explore Our Other Sites

Labmate Online
Compact chilling/heating dry bath for robotic workflows
Explore more Arrow
Pollution Solutions Online
Next-generation reverse osmosis membranes for more efficient and cost-effective seawater desalination
Explore more Arrow
Petro Online
Promotion strengthens engineering leadership team
Explore more Arrow
Chromatography Today
Chromatography and XFEL imaging reveal critical point behind water’s behaviour
Explore more Arrow